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E.' G. ROGERSON. MULTILE FUSE PLUG. APPLICATION man MAY1L1918.

1,3 1 6,3 3K1 Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

JL 4L- INVENTOB 7M /wyarr fafa/'JM vvWITNESSES ATTORNEY EION GLASGOW ROGERSON, OF CALGAPY, ALBERTA, CANADA.

MULTIPLE-FUSE IPLUGj.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

Application filed May 17, 1918. Serial No. 235,131.

Be it known that I, EION GLASGOW ROGER- soN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Calgary, in the Province of Albenta and Dominion of .Cl/aliada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MultipleeFuse Plugs, of which the fo1- lowing is a specification.

'Electric wiring and instruments are protected and safeguarded by fuse plugs which break the circuit on the passage therethrough of an abnormal current. As generally constructed these fuse plugs are. ren- ,dered unservicealble for future use after having been blown by the passage of an ab normal current therethrough.

The .present invention provides a fuso plug which may be blown any number of times depending upon the number of fuse elements or wires embodied therein, such plugs being adjustable. after each blow-out to bring new fuse elements and wire into operative position.

The principal Object of the invention is to provide a fuse plug which may be depended upon to operate a given numlber of times, thereby materially reducing the cost of safef guarding electric wiring and instruments.

The invention furthermore Iaims to provide a fuse plug which may be utilized in the accustomed way but which contains within itself a plurality of fuse elements which are adapted to be brought successively into operative position. so that when the plug is blown it is not necessary to replace the saine by a new one,` the same result being accomplished by adjusting the movable part so as to bring another of the fuse elements into operative position, the plug as a. whole being replaceable only after all of the fuse elements have been blown.

A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a. multiple fuse plug embodyin g means which assures the correct position of the fuse elements, this being determined bothv audibly and by touch.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditi-ons, various changes in the for-m, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing:n

Figure 1 is a vertical centralsection of ka multiple fuse plug embodying the invention` the shaft and parts mounted thereon being illustrated in full lines, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section 'on the line 2-2 of FigQB,

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2-011 the line 3-3 of F-ig. 1, and 1 Fig. A is a like section on the line l-l of Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawing` by like reference characters.

The plug comprises a body l which is hollow and of cup form, and consists of vitreous material such as lporcelain. open at one-end and formed with an outer flange 2 at the lopen end. `The closed end of the plug receives a metal end 3 which constitutes one terminal of the plug. The metal The plug is y shell 4C encompasses the body ofthe plug and tion therewith. The upper endlof the shaft i 13 is provided with a button or finger piece 6 of suitable material constituting a nonconductor of electricity. A cover 7 closes the open end of the plug and receives the upper end of the shaft 5. A bushing 8 is fitted in an opening centrally formed in the cover 7 and constitutes a bearing for the shaft 5. The cover 7 may be of any material, mica being preferred and is retained in place by means of a convenient ring 9 which embraces the Outer flange 2 of the plug A spur'wheel l0 is Asecured to the lower' portion of the shaft 5 so as to rotate therewith, the spur or teeth of the wheel being of rounded form to admit of thc'shaft 5 being rotated in either direction upon the application of sufficient force thereto. A spring detent 11 cooperates with'the spur wheel l0 to hold the shaft 5 in any one of the predetermined number of positions, this is eliccted by having the active end of the detent 1l made rounding and adapted to ride upon the inclined sides of adjacent spurs ber of fuse elements or lwireslQ as indicated most clearly in Figs. 2 land 3. When the active end of the detent 11 rests in the notch or depression formed between adj aeent spurs or teeth one of the fuse elements or wires 12 is in correct and proper position to complete the circuit. through the fuse plug as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. The detent 11 is mounted in the lower closed end of the plug and may make connection with the metal end 3 thereby supplementing the ac- -tion of the 4shatt 5 in completing the circuit.

In this connection it is observed that in the event ofthe lower end of the shaft 5 being stepped in the cup or Ibody of the plug witliout making electrica-l connection with the metal end 3, the circuit is completed from the shaft 5 to the metal end 3, by means of the detent 11.

'The shaft 5 is provided with a. plurality of fuse elements or wires 12 which are in electrical connection therewith at one end, the opposite ends of the element 1Q being electrically insulated and disposed to make electrical connection with the shell or terminal 4. This result is effected by rotating the shaft 5 so as to bring the fuse elements into position to make connectionwith a conta-ct 13 which is supported in. the wall of the plug and which is electrically connected with the shell 4 by Imeans of a conductor 14. As indicated the fuse elements or wires 12 are embedded in an insulating material 15, the salme preferably consisting o asbestos or granular material of any nature which is a non-conductor of electricity. lt is preferred to have the insulating' material 15 loose since it is not subject to destructive influence incident to a fusing of the elements 19..

The provision of loose insulating material 15 necessitates the embodiment of a con-- tainer for receiving and holding the same `in position. This container may be of any construction and material, but it is preferred to form the same of mica, and by reason ol the nature of such material the container comprises a bottom 16 and top 17 and a body yor shell 18. Such container is not `aiicctcd by the fusing oi the elements 12 hence each of such elements may be blown without aecting the usefulness of the remaining elements. The lower ends of the elements lor wires 12 are connected with the shaft and uzpper ends extend through the top' 17 and are flattened as indicated at 19 to insure firm connection being had with the lattened end of the contact 13.

multiple fuse plug constructed substantially as herein specified is adapted for use in the well known manner. When in operative position the circuit is complete through the plug from the terminal 4, conductor 144.

contact 13, fuse elements 12, shaft 5, and end 3. In the event of the plug blowing the shaft 5 may be turned by means of the b uttoii or finger piece G to. bring the connection fuse element 12 iii position to make electrical connection with 'the conta-ct 13 when the circuit through 'the plug till be the same as hereinbefore described. then the next eleinent 12 is blown the plug may again be adjusted. to bring anotlhei ot' the fuse elements into operative position. It will thus be 'understood that the plug inay be adjusted for use as many times as it contains fuse ele-- ments 12. When turning the shaft't 5 a click is made audible by the passing of the deteiit l1. from one notch or depression to the other and in addition the proper positioning of the fuse elements is iiiade known by the sense of touch. The fuse elements l), are so disposed that when the detent 11 rests in the depression or notch formed between adjacent spurs or teeth of the `wheel 10, one of such fuse elements is in position to make the connection with the contact 13, thereby coinpleting the circuit in the inanner herein stated.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, foi-in of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, ct cetera, as may prove expedient and iall within the scope of the appended elaiilis.

Having thus fully described my inven-` tion, what I claim as new and desire to sccure by Letters Patent i.

l. A fuse plug, coiiiprising a hollow body, contacts mounted on the body `and electrically insulated :iroiii each other, a shaft mounted in the 'body and electrically connected with one of said contacts, fuse elements carried by and grouped about the shaft and iii electrical connection at one of their ends therewith and having their opposite ends' spaced apart and electrically iiisulated 'from one another and adapted to be brought successively into engagement with the remaining Contact ol the body, a fusepositioning member rotatable with the shaft,

and a detent coacting with the iuse-posi I tioniiig member.

2. A fuse plug, comprising a hollow body, a lixed contact associated therewith, a. shaft rotatably mounted in the hollow body, and

a plurality of fuse elements grouped about the shaft and in electrical connection at one end therewith, said fuse elements adapted Ito be successively brought into electrical connection with the said fixed contact by rotation of the shaft, and meansI coacting with the body of the plug and shaft for properly fixing the position of the fuse elements when adjusting the shaft, the same consisting of' a spur wheel and 'a spring actuated detent.

3. A fuse plug, comprising a hollow body,

terminals mounted on the body and electrically insulated from each other, a fixed contact in electrical Connectionlwith one of the terminals, a shaft rotatably mounted in the body, and in electrical connection with the remaining terminal, and a plurality of fuse elements mounted on the shaft and adapted to be successively brought into position to make electrical connection With the said fixed 10 contact, a spur Wheel rotatable with the shaft, "and a spring actuated detent mounted upon the body, and coacting with the spur Wheel, to properly position the fuse elements.

.In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EION GLASGOW ROGERSON.

Witnesses:

LOLA A. MCEWING, CHRI's'rnNA RoGERsoN. 

